Angry students knock some cents into NCCU

DURHAM -- When N.C. Central University officials realized that they needed to charge more for a student activity fee than anticipated, they told students to settle up.

The difference? One penny.

Commence chaos. Hundreds of students stood in line Monday afternoon, pennies in hand, after a false rumor began circulating that those who didn't pay would be fined $25.

For its penny, NCCU prompted some unprintable thoughts from a disenchanted student body.

"It was just a penny," said JeLisa Wilson, a senior. "But it got everyone in a mood. In a frenzy."

By evening, a campus administrator sent an apologetic e-mail to students. While there was a one-cent student fee increase, the university had erred in asking students to settle the balance, and no fees or late charges would be imposed, he wrote. The adjustment will be made next semester.

"Mistakes happen," wrote Alan D. Robertson, NCCU's vice chancellor of administration and finance. "When they do, we do our best to set things right because we sincerely appreciate you and your relationship with NCCU."

NCCU would have netted $85.01 if all 8,501 students enrolled this fall had settled up.